RX Paddle Tail

Description

The RX Paddle Tail is a handcrafted soft plastic paddle tail swimbait built for SoCal inshore saltwater bass — and the thumping tail kicks from the first second of your retrieve and doesn’t stop. Tight enough to stay composed under pressure, wide enough to push water when the current picks up. When I need to cover water or get a reaction bite, this is the one I reach for.

What It’s Best For

The RX Paddle Tail is built for situations where fish respond to movement and vibration.

It’s especially effective:

• In SoCal harbors, back bays, and inshore zones
• Around pylons, seawalls, and structure edges
• When fish are keyed into baitfish
• For spotted bay bass, calico bass, and sand bass

When to Use It

This is a go-to bait when:

• Fish are actively feeding
• You need to cover water and locate fish
• A stronger presence gets more attention than finesse baits

When fish want movement, this is the profile that gets bit.

How I Fish It

I fish this on a lead head through the MDR pylons, on a Texas rig along the seawall, and behind the bladed jig when fish are locked into baitfish.

It works across spotted bay bass, calico bass, and sand bass.
Drop it in, feel the tail thump, and play it out.

Why It Works

The paddle tail design makes it versatile across presentations:

• On a jig head it swims straight and true
• On a Texas rig it runs weedless through tight structure
• Behind the Cheapskate it adds extra kick and makes the whole presentation louder

When fish are keyed into baitfish and you want something with real tail action, this is the profile that produces.

Conditions Guide

• Water type: Harbors, bays, inshore saltwater
• Best around: Pylons, seawalls, structure edges
• Water clarity: Stained to moderately clear
• Presentation: Steady retrieve, slow-roll, or mid-column
• Key trigger: Tail thump and vibration

Size Guide

Available in 3.5″, 4.5″, and 5.5″.

• 3.5″ — When fish are keyed in on smaller bait
• 4.5″ — My starting point in most conditions
• 5.5″ — When I want a bigger profile or more presence

Choose your size based on what the fish are keyed into. When in doubt, start with the 4.5″ and adjust from there.

How to Rig It

• Lead head or RX Roll Head for a standard swim retrieve with added action on the pause
• Texas rig on a 4/0 or 5/0 EWG hook for weedless presentations
• Bladed jig trailer when you want extra tail kick on the fall

Add an RX Belly Weight when you want extra depth control without switching to a jig head.

I run Blacktail Fishing hooks across all setups.

For a full breakdown of weights, hook sizing, and rigging setups, see the full paddle tail rigging guide.

Learn How to Rig & Fish It

• How to Rig a Paddle Tail
• Spotted Bay Bass Fishing Guide
• Soft Plastic Color Guide

Built for SoCal Conditions

Made in Los Angeles in small batches and tested in real harbor and back bay conditions.